Letter: Higher taxes can still be good value

Sir: You say (leading article, 16 April) that we should see paying tax as a duty or obligation. To me it is the same as any other personal expenditure - to satisfy a want. In the same way that I purchase food, clothing and the other necessities of life I want to purchase my share of a first-class education system, a comprehensive health service, good public transport, social security provision and all the other public services of a civilised society. Furthermore, I am quite prepared to pay more than I do at present for these desirable commodities. It goes without saying that I expect them to be provided efficiently, whether by the public or private sector.

A C Dale

Salisbury